Page 18 of Claim of Blood
“Continue,” Adam commanded softly.
Tears gathered at Leo’s temples. “They tortured her before killing her. My family was so drunk that no one remembered who gave the final blow, so everyone present was given rights to the kill. It was celebrated. Tattooed at the reception.”
Nathaniel’s grip loosened. Disgust warred with something like pity. Across the room, Emilia pressed a hand to her heart, her dark eyes glistening. Even Maja’s fury had thawed, though her hold on Leo’s wrists didn’t waver.
“You took credit for a murder,” Ilona said coldly.
“No choice,” Leo whispered. “If I refused the mark, they’d have questioned everything.”
“Should you have?” Ilona asked quietly.
“I never touched her,” Leo said.
“And now you wear our First’s claim,” Gaspard observed, voice soft. “Quite the transition.”
Maja finally let Leo’s wrists go but stayed close. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, her voice low. “We could have prepared.”
“There wasn’t time,” Adam replied, allowing a hint of gentleness to color his tone. Of all his children, Maja’s pain cut deepest.
She fixed him with a look that spoke volumes about what she thought of that excuse.
“The pull was... overwhelming,” he admitted. “The claiming was inevitable, though I am sorry I couldn’t warn you.”
Even as he spoke, memory pressed behind his eyes—the garage wall, Leo’s body arching under him. It shouldn’t have happened like that. Not rough and fast, not without words. But his restraint had cracked open, and now it was too late. Leo had come apart for him—bled for him, sobbed—and Adam had no excuse. Only consequence.
Nathaniel stepped back, releasing Leo. He slumped upright, dragging in his first full breath. His bare skin prickled with goosebumps, one hand going to his throat to check for damage he wouldn’t find.
Ilona plucked Leo’s shirt from the floor, and when he reached for it, she shredded it to ribbons, vampire strength reducing cotton to scraps with theatrical flair.
“Petty, Ilona,” Oren said, breaking his silence.
Ilona tossed the remnants onto the carpet with a sneer. “Center, hunter. Kneel.” Her voice carried command. “You have more answers to give.”
Leo’s eyes sought Adam’s, but Adam turned away. This was the protocol for any prisoner brought before the council.
The council resumed their seats. Adam claimed his own, Maja rigid on his right, Oren steady on his left. He watched as Leo climbed down from the table and sank to his knees on the carpet, head bowed.
“Where are the rest of the hunters?” Nathaniel demanded.
“I can’t betray my family.”
Nathaniel’s fist crashed against the table. “Where. Are. They?”
“They’re in Porte du Coeur... some in Innsbrook, the rest in the First Cat.”
“The Innsbrook address,” Maja demanded. When Leo remained silent, she turned to Adam. “Command him.”
“No.” Adam’s voice was firm. “He’s told us they’re here. We’ll be able to find them easily enough.” He glanced at Oren, who nodded.
Lander hummed thoughtfully. “How were you surveilling Adam?”
“I was supposed to watch from the café, but... Adam spoke to me. They put me on night patrol after that.”
A few eyebrows lifted. Across the room, Emilia tilted her head. “That was all it took? A conversation?”
Leo blinked, cheeks coloring, but his voice was steady. “They considered me compromised.”
Lander leaned back, tone light, almost flippant. “I’m surprised it took a whole conversation. You’ve compromised people with less, Adam.”
